NEWS

ESPN: Seattle Seawolves defend Major League Rugby title

Seattle Seawolves made it back-to-back Major League Rugby titles on Sunday as they defeated San Diego Legion 26-23 at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego.

The result was in doubt right up until the final minute when Brad Tucker touched down to score the match-winning try, after the Seawolves forward pack had rumbled forward from a driving maul.

The Seawolves scored four tries to two in the three-point victory, their other five-pointers coming from Stephan Coetzee, J.P. Smith and Riekert Hattingh.

The Legion’s tries came via Nick Boyer and Jordan Manihera, but they were otherwise forced to rely on the boot of Joe Pietersen whose drop-goal with two minutes to play seemed to have secured the title for San Diego.

But the Seawolves weren’t to be denied and when a penalty offered the opportunity to put themselves in a try-scoring position, the forwards did the rest.

The result means the Seawolves remain Major League Rugby’s only champions to date, after they defeated the Glendale Raptors to win the inaugural title in 2018.

Seattle will chase a third title in an expanded 12-team competition in 2020 with the addition of the New England Free Jacks, Old Glory DC and Rugby ATL.